Iran vows to maintain its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz as cargo ships face increasing attacks, reports Vatican News.
More cargo ships have been struck in the Gulf as Iran pledged to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed, reports Vatican News.
Two tankers were hit off Iraq and a containership near the United Arab Emirates, with Iranian state media claiming responsibility for at least one strike. Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, unseen since succeeding his father, vowed to avenge Iranian casualties and continue blocking the vital shipping lane.
Israeli strikes in Lebanon killed at least eight people in Beirut's seafront district, while the military stated that its operations targeted Hezbollah. Residents of southern Beirut were warned to evacuate amid what Israel described as wide-scale attacks on Iran.
Italy reported that its base in Erbil, northern Iraq, was hit overnight, and drones were sighted near Kuwait's international airport. The US military informed Congress that the first week of war with Iran has cost about $11.3 billion, excluding pre-strike deployments.
